Overview 85,000 people on probation Around 19% of them get revoked and imprisoned for violating They are entitled to notice and a hearing on alleged violations Justice Reinvestment: Big Picture Since 2011, you can revoke only for: New criminal offenses Absconding For other violations ( technical violations ) you can respond with any sanction other than revocation, including CRV After two CRVs, probationer may be revoked for any violation 1
Justice Reinvestment Probation Revocation Rate Justice Reinvestment Projected pre-jra Prison Population Projected post-jra Notice Probationer entitled to 24 hours notice of alleged violations Generally comes from violation report Supervised: DCC-10 Unsupervised: AOC-CR-220 Notice controls scope of the hearing 2
Notice Jurisdiction The court may act [a]t any time prior to the expiration or termination of the probation period. G.S. 15A-1344(d). Court may also act after expiration if violation report filed (and file stamped) before probation ends. G.S. 15A-1344(f). Probation begins PVR Probation expires Court has jurisdiction to act 18 months Arrest and bail Probationers can be arrested for a violation Generally entitled to bail Exceptions for dangerous probationers: With felony charges pending, or Ever convicted of a sex crime 3
Preliminary hearings Required under G.S. 15A-1345(c) Within 7 working days of arrest Required only if probationer is detained If not held within 7 working days, probationer must be released pending final violation hearing Final violation hearings Proper venue: Where probation imposed Where violation occurred Where probationer resides Class H/I felonies pled in district court By default, violation hearing in superior court May be heard in district court by consent of parties Hearing procedure Not a formal trial Probationer may confront, cross-examine witnesses Rules of evidence don t apply Hearsay admissible Exclusionary rule inapplicable Proof to judge s reasonable satisfaction 4
Hearing procedure Violations must be willful or without lawful excuse State shows violation Burden shifts to defendant to show good faith inability to comply RESPONSE OPTIONS Overview Revocation CRV Quick dip Split Contempt Extension Modification Transfer to unsupervised Termination Reinstate 5
Revocation Court may revoke probation only for: New criminal offenses Absconding Any technical violation after two CRVs New criminal offense Commit no criminal offense in any jurisdiction Must there be a conviction first? Rule: No violation based on unconvicted conduct unless the court makes court makes an independent finding of the criminal activity No revocation solely for Class 3 misdemeanor Reference to pending charge does not spoil a violation report Absconding Not abscond, by willfully avoiding supervision or by willfully making the defendant s whereabouts unknown to the supervising officer. More than merely failing to report More than merely failing to remain within the jurisdiction 6
Revocation Court may revoke probation only for: New criminal offenses Absconding Any technical violation after two CRVs Confinement in response to violation Felony CRV: 90 days 7
Confinement in response to violation Burke CRV Eastern C.I. Robeson CRV Confinement in response to violation Permissible in response to violations other than commit no criminal offense and absconding Served continuously (no weekender CRV) Generally served at CRV Centers Cannot be ordered to DART-Cherry/Black Mtn. Multiple CRVs must run concurrently Felony CRV may not be reduced by jail credit After two CRV periods, court may revoke for any violation Upon revocation Judge may reduce sentence within the same grid cell and range Judge may change the sentencing judge s decision on consecutive/concurrent sentences 8
Response Options Revocation CRV Quick dip Split Contempt Extension Modification Transfer to unsupervised Termination Reinstate Quick Dips 2-3 days of jail confinement May be imposed by judge or by probation officer through delegated authority Misdemeanants: After two quick dips, court may revoke for any technical violation Quick Dips 9
Pathways to Revocation Eligibility Commit no criminal offense Absconding Any technical violation after two specified interventions: Felony: 90-day CRV DWI: CRV up to 90 days Pre-12/1/15 Misd: CRV up to 90 days Post-12/1/15 Misd: Quick Dips Response Options Revocation CRV Quick dip Split Contempt Extension Modification Transfer to unsupervised Termination Reinstate Special probation (split) May be added in response to violation Max jail time: ¼ of imposed maximum May be served in local jail May be served in noncontinuous intervals 10
Contempt Up to 30 days in jail Chapter 5A procedures apply Proof beyond a reasonable doubt Note: Counts for credit if defendant is later revoked (State v. Belcher) Extending probation Two types: ordinary and special purpose Ordinary extensions At any time prior to expiration, for good cause shown, the court may extend probation to the 5-year maximum No violation required May happen multiple times 11
Special purpose extensions Extension by up to 3 years beyond the original period if: Probationer consents During last 6 months of original period, and Extension is for restitution or medical or psychiatric treatment Only this type of extension may go beyond the 5-year maximum Extensions 12
Modification Court may add/remove conditions at any time, for good cause shown No violation need have occurred After violation, Intermediate conditions may be added to a Community case Transfer to Unsupervised Permissible at any time Court may authorize probation officer to transfer defendant upon payment of moneys Termination Court may terminate probation at any time Terminate unsuccessfully 13
Elect to Serve Can you allow the defendant to serve his time? No longer an option by statute (since 1997) Probationer can admit to a violation, but must be a new crime or absconding to authorize revocation Credit upon revocation Pre-trial confinement Pre-hearing confinement Active portions of prior split sentences But NOT electronic house arrest DART-Cherry/Black Mountain But NOT private treatment Contempt (State v. Belcher) CRV periods Quick dips Appeals Defendant may appeal only revocation or imposition of special probation (split) No appeal of other modifications No appeal of CRV. State v. Romero. Appeals from district court Only for revocation or special probation No right to appeal from district court if violation hearing waived 14
Common pitfalls Lack of jurisdiction Improper probation period Improper extension Jurisdiction The court may act [a]t any time prior to the expiration or termination of the probation period. G.S. 15A-1344(d). Court may also act after expiration if violation report filed (and file stamped) before probation ends. G.S. 15A-1344(f). Improper period of probation Misdemeanor Community 6-18 months Misdemeanor Intermediate 12-24 months Felony Community 12-30 months Felony Intermediate 18-36 months 15
Improper extension 1 Feb 2001: 36-month probation No begins jurisdiction to extend 1 Feb 2004: probation set to expire Goes beyond 5 years; not a special purpose 26 Feb 2004: defendant consents to extension 24-month extension (to Feb 2006) No jurisdiction to 9 January 2006: defendant consents revoke to another 24-month extension (to Feb 2008) Probation revoked on 30 April 2007 State v. Satanek (2008) Questions? 16